About Me

Even though I grew up in the city, my dream was to have my own home in the country. After finding the right place, I had to learn about some essentials of country living. That included learning how to take care of the septic tank.
In the city, I never worried about where everything went when I flushed the toilet or took a shower. I soon learned that if I wanted to enjoy the serenity of my new home, I had better learn the basics of septic tank cleaning and repair. Fortunately, I found somebody who taught me when to deal with things on my own and when to call a professional.
If you just moved to a home that has a septic tank, keep reading. I'll help you know when its time for the tank to be inspected, cleaned, or repaired. Trust me, that knowledge will come in handy.

At some point in the future, it's reasonable to expect that you might encounter a plumbing emergency in your home. This label identifies a plumber issue that requires direct and immediate attention from a professional -- it's not simply a dripping faucet that annoys you. When you encounter a plumbing emergency, whether it's a burst pipe or a severely overflowing toilet, arranging for a 24-hour plumber to visit your home is necessary, but it shouldn't be the first thing you do. Here are three important tasks to complete before you call the plumber and book an appointment.

Cut Off The Water Supply

When the water is flowing, it's important to remember that it will continue to do so until you do something about it. Your first priority upon discovering a major plumbing issue is to cut off the flow of water. Your first course of action is to look for the shut-off valve connected to the fixture that's the source of the issue. For a sink, the shut-off valve is typically underneath it and against the wall; for a toilet, it's on the floor behind the fixture. Turn the handle until the water stops flowing. If you can't find the shut-off valve or the fixture doesn't have one, move quickly to your home's main supply line, which is typically located near your hot water tank.

Prevent Further Water Spread

Some quick action on your part can prevent the water from spreading elsewhere in your home and causing considerably more damage. If the floor of your bathroom is covered in water, for example, the last thing you want is for it to run out the door and down your stairs. Place several layers of heavy towels on the floor to prevent the water from spreading. They will soak up the water and eventually it will pass through them, but you can quickly replace them, wring out the original towels and continue this pattern as needed. Several other towels can be used to absorb the water, ring it out into your sink or bathtub and continue until you've removed all the standing water, where possible.

Move Away What You Can

Water can damage a wide range of home furnishings over time, so move quickly to get items out of the water as soon as you have the water under control. This means lifting area rugs, removing floor-standing fixtures and relocating anything that's become wet. Move it all to a dry place out of the way so that your plumber has an unimpeded path to the plumbing emergency. Once you've removed your items at risk of being damaged, it's time to call your emergency plumber such as Pipeworks Inc.